UK government urges residents to keep basic emergency supplies at home
The British government recommends that people keep a stock of essentials at home in case of an emergency. It cites a recent large software failure, last summer's heat and wildfires, and a strong storm that has left parts of Cornwall without power.
The government of the United Kingdom is advising residents to keep a supply of essentials at home in case of an emergency. The call comes as a strong storm is testing the country.
Why the advice now
The government points to a recent large-scale software failure that affected state servers, as well as record heat, drought and wildfires during last summer.
The causes of the failure became known on Wednesday. A number of online services were unavailable, and the number of hacking attempts ran into the millions. The incident has been described as the largest in cybersecurity in recent years. Governments and companies around the world have hurried to protect their systems.
The storm and the prime minister's remarks
The UK itself is currently being tested by a powerful storm. Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed sympathy for residents of Cornwall, who are now without electricity. He stressed that it is important to have supplies at home that help people get through such situations, which is why the government is discussing emergency preparedness. According to him, the country could face a winter with even bigger floods.
The source does not specify which particular supplies the government recommends keeping.
